Friday, November 30, 2012

It seems I must apologize again for my long absence. This was definitely not a willing one. Some of you may know that my father-in-law's health had been declining for awhile. He left us in his ninety-first year, on Saturday afternoon, November 24, to be with the Lord. We will miss him, but we are grateful for the years we've had with him and happy that he is no longer suffering. Our hope is in this: "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. For My Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." -John 6:39-40

I guess my new mixed media painting is appropriate for this week.

Hope Is Contagious

8" x 8"

Mixed Media on Cradled Birch Panel

After prepping the panel by sanding and coating with several layers of gesso, I painted in a light background with acrylic paints. I then transferred images of antique music to the surface with gloss gel medium. You can also use matte gel medium, but I think the image is cloudier when you do.

I then transferred pieces of an old French street map.

I brushed FW acrylic inks in Process Magenta and Process Yellow over the surface and then lightly sprayed them with regular rubbing alchohol. This makes a beautiful mottled texture in the ink. I began adhering collage elements, such as pieces of an antique French dictionary, pieces of old magazine pages, etc. For paper elements, I usually use liquid matte medium, brushed onto the surface and then again over the paper.

I used my pinking scissors to cut out some patterned paper.

Here is where the real fun started. Using the acrylic inks, I dropped them onto the surface with an eyedropper and allowed them to run down. Then I created the flowers. I mixed modeling paste with a few drops of acrylic ink for each flower. I drew the flowers on the paper side of freezer paper and cut a stencil from them. You can use an x-acto knife or small scissors. Laying each flower stencil on the surface, wax side down, I spread the modeling paste over the stencil. Then, I lifted the paper. Magic! I had sculptured flowers. I never get tired of this technique!

You can see them a little better in the close-up.

Next, I painted some bubble paper with pale lavender acrylic paint and stamped the surface. I smeared some of the blue tinted modeling paste randomly on the surface.

I prepared the next element, a butterfly in Photoshop CS5. It began as an ordinary butterfly, but I applied a gradient map filter to it (it breaks down the picture into a group of colors - some day I'll learn more about how it works!) When I was finished tweaking it, I printed it, cut it out and adhered it with matte medium.

I wanted to finish this quickly, since it's been so long since I posted. I didn't take as many photos at this point. I shaded the flowers with inks and acrylic paints. The black line work around the butterfly and flowers was done with a liner brush and Speedball Super Pigmented black ink. I drew in the swirls under the flowers with a Sakura black pigman micron pen. The tiny white writing and the white line work was done with a Sakura gelly roll pen. The tiny butterflies are another gel medium transfer. I painted the dots around the flowers with acrylic paint and the end of a paint brush. Using acrylic paint in Dioxazine Purple, I shaded the edges of the panel. I randomly dry-brushed some pale lavender paint. The butterfly is shaded around the edges with purple acrylic paint mixed with a little payne's grey. I used 527 glue to adhere the pink button. I printed my words in the My Underwood font and adhered them with matte medium.

I added some white linework with a gelly roll pen around the butterfly and I decided to include line work on top of it and above it as well.

I'll be linking this post to Paint Party Friday and to Pink Saturday. Please click on the icons in my right sidebar and check out all of the contributions of art and beauty from my friends.

As always, if you have any questions, I'd be delighted to answer them. I am so very happy to be back with you again. Each of you who visits and comments makes my life so much brighter. I hope my little blog brightens your life too!

Saturday, August 11, 2012

I was having one of those "not so great days" when I remembered the lesson of this verse. You know the kind of day I'm talking about - when the slightest task is too much to even think about, and it seems as if the sun will never shine again.

Art Journal 8-11

"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest upon me.' " 2 Corinthians 12: 8-10

I hand painted the daisies and birds with craft acrylic paints. The birdhouse is a scrap of fabric and the roof is paper. I sprayed the background with Dylusions spray inks. The zentangle-inspired doodles were hand drawn with a Sakura pigma micron pen. I also used Sakura Soufle gel pens. I cut the lanterns at the top from an old magazine. The large butterfly is a sticker, and the smaller ones were cut from patterned oragami paper.

This is the digital background I created in PS CS5. I printed it out and collaged over it. You are welcome to download it for personal use only.

Saturday, July 07, 2012

Happy Pink Saturday! The mercury was already climbing at 9:30 a.m. with the real feel temperature at 109! Before it got any warmer, we headed out to our favorite farmer's market for some healthy treats. While my hubby picked out some tomatoes, I wandered about with my camera.

I had no trouble finding plenty of pink to share.

Things are pretty crispy and dry here, but the colors still were beautiful.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

I've read that most artists have their own personal routine of sorts, but I never really thought that I followed one. As I stopped to have a heart to heart with Molly the golden retriever on my way downstairs, I realized that I too am a creature of habit. I smiled as I realized that this was a good subject for my next art journal page.

An Artist's Life

9" x 12"

Mixed Media on Canson All-Media Paper

I cut some pages from an old book and adhered them to the surface with Liquitex matte medium.

Using a black Sakura Pigma Micron pen, I drew in an arrangement of funky flowers.

I painted in some gesso around the arrangement.

Using watercolor pencils, I added color to the background. I then painted the flowers using water-soluble crayons.

I added some collage elements that I printed out from my computer.

For the title, I used Speedball super-pigmented black ink and a scriptliner brush. I wrote the text with a very fine purple Sharpie. I drew in some additional flowers at the top and artist's instruments at the bottom. The printed elements were outlined in black.

I painted the additional drawings with water-soluble crayons and added a bit more color to the background.

Finally, I highlighted the title with a white Sakura gelly roll pen.

The Jul/Aug issue of Somerset Studio magazine is out. It features the art of accomplished calligraphy artist, Lisa Engelbrecht.

She is doing the most exquisite work on fabric.

I love the summer-inspired work of Amber Anne.

I hope all of you are having a pleasant summer. It is absolutely gorgeous here in Pennsylvania. I think I may have to sneak out of the studio to go kayaking. Have a wonderful day!

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

I have a new art journal page to share with you today. I got to thinking about all of the moments that make up our lives, and how many slip away unnoticed and unused. I've been keenly aware lately that each of these moments will come but once, and then they will be gone forever. I don't know about you, but I've been feeling as if I should seize them and savor them, and make the most of every one of them.

Every Moment

9" x 12"

Mixed media on Canson All-Media paper

I did this one in two parts. I sprayed the background with Dylusions Spray Inks. I sprayed some water over them to create some interesting water spots. While the paper was damp, I drew squiggly lines into the paper. When the paper is bruised, the lines show up as being darker.

Using pastels, I drew in more decorative lines.

At this point, I sprayed the background with Krylon matte spray to keep the pastels from smearing. On a sheet of Bristol vellum, I drew some funky flowers. The Dover series of books is a fantastic source of inspiration for this sort of thing. I used a .05 black Sakura Pigma Micron pen for the drawing. I colored the flowers with Prismacolor colored pencils. Next, I cut out the flower arrangement and adhered it to the background with Elmer's clear craft-bond glue. I weighted it down with some books to get good even contact. When the glue was dry, I used a white Sakura Gelly-Roll pen to draw in some flowers and leaves.

Using a pencil, I drew in the text. I colored it with Caran D'Ache Neocolor II water-soluble crayons. Using a Pitt carbon pencil, I outlined the letters in black. I highlighted the lettering with white crayon. On the bottom I adhered some patterned collage paper with Liquitex matte medium. I completed the lettering and highlighted the outside of it with a white gelly-roll pen. The flowers needed to be tied in with the background a bit more, so I lightly shaded them with a purple Prismacolor pencil. I added some outlines in pencil also.

To my great happiness, I found the Summer 2012 issue of Somerset Art Journaling at B&N. It is fantastic! There is plenty of color and inspiration.

Well, I'd better get back to work. I have a few more irons in the fire :) Have a terrific day, and we'll visit again soon.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

We had a perfectly lovely day here in Pennsylvania - 80 degrees and sunny. The lighting was wonderful in my studio and I completed my latest watercolor painting.

Water Jar With Strawberries

7" x 9"

Watercolor on 140lb. cold pressed paper

I have quite a few pieces of Portugese pottery that I brought back from when I lived there. It provides such a colorful subject for painting. I particularly like the shape of this water jar. I purchased my pottery at a wonderful outdoor market in Cascais. The artists were selling their wares, so I got to meet them. The organic strawberries were the first of the season and they were delicious!

I did some more sketching as well.

Columbine, from my sister's garden.

Poppies, my favorite.

Finally, these lovely yellow flowers that I can never remember the name of. I love the purple rings in the centers.

I'm sketching every day now. I'm finding that what I've been reading is true: sketching is about 90 percent observing. It's mostly a matter of training the eye to really see, and slowing down enough to let the right hemisphere of the brain take over. If I draw what I truly see, instead of what my left brain has conditioned me to draw, I have much greater success. In order to do that, I can't allow my pen to get ahead of my eye. It takes a bit of self-discipline, but it is much more effective.

On another happy note, my van is finally drivable again...you may remember my story of the spark plugs exploding last winter. My husband and son are becoming quite adept at repairs. It actually passed inspection, so I can haul my kayak to the lake! Look out, French Creek, here I come :)

Friday, April 27, 2012

A few weeks ago, after photographing the Brandywine Rughooker's exhibition, I noticed a beautiful park across the street from the library. It was one of the first really nice days of spring, so I decided to take a closer look through the lens of my camera. Would you like to take a walk with me?

Doesn't that bench look inviting?

I love the pattern of bricks at the entrance.

The flowers were glorious!

The cherry blossoms were amazing against the electric blue sky.

Wouldn't this be the perfect spot for wedding or prom photos?

All over the neighborhood, the magnolias were bursting into bloom.

Their pink fluffiness makes my heart skip a beat!

Down the street from the park, I found a lovely koi pond where I captured beautiful reflections on the water.

The koi appeared to be swimming in the clouds!

All the earth has come to life.

They look like neon confetti!

The light brings out every detail.

We are surrounded by miracles.

I hope you find a few miracles of your own today.

Happy Pink Saturday to all of my pink-lovng friends out there. To enjoy all of the wonderful pinkness, click on the Pink Saturday icon in my right sidebar. Thank you to Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for hosting today's pink celebration!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

I know it's a bit early, but I just can't help myself. A few years ago, my sister and I visited Longwood Gardens for their annual Christmas display. Needless to say, it was magical and breathtaking. Lorrie called me earlier this week to firm up our plans for this year. I'm so excited because I'll be able to document our visit with my new camera. Somehow, I missed sharing my photos from our 2008 visit. They were taken with my old camera, but the beauty of Longwood shines through. So come along with me, and we'll start the holiday season early.

This is the scene that greeted us as we entered the Conservatory.

I've never seen so many pointsettias in one place in my life!

I love the way the light played with the petals and leaves.

There was no shortage of Christmas trees!

The theme for that year was cranberries, so of course, there was a cranberry bog.

As always at Longwood, you have to remember to look up.

I love white lillies.

There was a gorgeous white poinsettia topiary surrounded by a sea of red geraniums.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Hello there! How are you today? I hope you'll drop me a comment today and tell me what you're up to. I'm looking forward to a day at home. Yesterday started with a bang. My nineteen year old college sophomore son was diagnosed with pneumonia. Of course, I spent the day running him to the doctor, whose appointment secretary insisted that there was no record of him having ever been a patient there. It turns out that she looked up the wrong name. That'll do it every time :)

I'm so happy you are joining me for Texture Tuesday. To find out what it's all about, and to see many wonderful examples of digital art, please pay Kim a visit at Kim Klassen Cafe. Thank you, Kim, for providing us with such wonderful photoshop textures and inspiration!

This week's theme is Love. It took me awhile to figure out how to approach this. I went through my photos and finally, this one jumped out at me. It is yet another one I took in Maine. The lovely pair of flowers reminds me of the beauty of two hearts joined in love. Not even when parted in death does their story end. It lives on in the hearts and souls of all who loved and were loved by them. It's effects spread out like ripples on the water.

I used one layer of Kim's Scripted Edges texture set to Linear Dodge over the photo. I added a layer mask to the texture layer and brushed the texture away from just the pink blossoms. It seemed to help bring them forward. The font for the word "love" is Felt Pen. The layer is set to Screen at 73 percent opacity. The font for the rest of the text is Porcelain, set to Normal.

Friday, August 19, 2011

I'm just getting back to somewhat of a normal routine after our summer adventures, and I have some wonderful pink to share with you. Yes, even in Bass Harbor, I found you some pink. The thing I was most enchanted by as I strolled through Bass Harbor was the seaside cottages. Of course, it's always fun to read about them in magazines, but it was fabulous to get out and photograph some of them myself. Are you ready? When I saw this one, I could hardly believe my eyes. You can probably guess what went through my mind when I saw it.

Is this cute, or what?

There was a botanical garden of wildflowers in Acadia National Park.

I found lots of beautiful pink flowers on the islands.

These lovely geraniums were growing in the yard of a historic church.

I think these are nootka roses.

This beautiful garden was in Bass Harbor.

Another magical Bass Harbor cottage.

It's gardens were inviting.

On this trip to Maine, we explored a new place. We went to Deer Isle. Deer Isle is accessible by a very narrow, high bridge. Though the ride over it is a bit hair-raising, the island is a peaceful place to escape from the real world.

On the opposite side of Deer Isle is one of the most productive fishing ports in the country-Stonington. I fell in love with this town. It was everything I imagined a seaside town could be. Street after street of shingle-style cottages charmed me. Like the brilliant hues in my paint box, color dripped from window boxes and mingled together into a dazzling sea.

The fushia was such a deep pink, it was almost red.

I walked to the end of the main street and followed the road up a steep hill. If I had stopped just a step to soon, I would have missed this storybook bed and breakfast.

These looked like giant zinnias but I'll bet some of you gardeners out there will know what they are.

I found bunches of these growing by the roadside.

It is called fireweed, because it is also commonly found growing in burned out areas.

Finally, for today, a few beautiful Maine sunsets from Mount Desert Island.

This one is from the marsh at Seawall.

This is from the shore on the other side of Seawall.

That's all for now. I hope you've enjoyed sharing the pinkness of Maine with me. If you would like to visit all of the Pink Saturday participants, please click on the Pink Saturday icon in my right sidebar. I want to thank Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for hosting another wonderful Pink Saturday.

I have much more of Stonington to share with you. I hope you'll join me later this week as we continue our tour!